You’re still operating with pretty big assumptions, and again missing the point. You’re also drawing a conclusion which doesn’t exist. The things I have were not bought out of impulse, I don’t spend every “spare cent” on instruments instead of rent, food, or other necessities, and there is no magical coincidence of “my income matching the quantity of music production and gaming equipment”. You’re assuming I don’t have a savings, which I do. But I cannot contribute to it, based on monetary compensation and life events that I have little-to-no control over, and just out of good practice I don’t ever touch it. Hence the living paycheck to paycheck. Again, a place where you miss the whole point.
You’re essentially pulling out the old “avocado toast” argument. If I’m not saving every little penny or investing in failing cryptocurrencies such as yourself, I’m being irresponsible.
Nobody should have to work 40 hours, and then an extra 30-40 hours of overtime a week to have a comfortable life or be able to contribute a decent amount to their savings. I’m not really sure what you’re basing any of your opinions or advice off of, but based on your history with crypto, I’m unlikely to follow any of your advice. But if you’d rather chalk everything up to “consumerism” and people buying too much stuff instead of “90% of people aren’t properly compensated for their time in the USA”, keep living your life in ignorance. And yeah, you can live how your grandparents did if you’re okay with depriving yourself of many aspects of modern life. You can rent out a closet and listen to the radio if that’s really what you want.
Things just plainly cost way too much nowadays. I could have a comfortable life with the money I make if it were 2002 instead of 2022, but in general, wages have not increased with the increase in the cost of living. This fact is one of many factors people take into account when deciding not to have children.
I feel bad for your children if this is the type of logic and thinking you employ regularly.
TL;DR - If YoU dOn’T hAvE kIdS aNd YoU sPeNd MoNeY oN tHiNgS yOu LiKe, Ur A bAd PeRsOn AnD pEoPlE LiKe DaDdY ElOn AnD oThEr EmPloYeRs Do No WrOnG bY pAyInG yOu A sHiTtY pAyChEcK.